Drinking straw with internal coating

Abstract

A drinking straw comprising an elongate tubular body of an insoluble material having an internal coating comprising a matrix containing an active agent dispersed within the matrix, the body sized to allow a carrier liquid to be drawn therethrough such that passage of the carrier liquid causes the matrix to release the active agent into the carrier liquid to be consumed by a drinker. The matrix comprises partially hydrolysed guar gum, an acid and a modified cellulose. The active agent includes sweetener, flavour, a nutrient and/or a pharmaceutical and optionally colour. The coating is prepared by mixing the matrix with water to form a paste or syrup and is then used to coat the inside surface of a drinking straw to a thickness of less than 1 mm. Liquid drawn through the straw dissolves or breaks down the coating, releasing the active agent into the liquid for consumption.

1 . A drinking straw comprising an elongate tubular body of an insoluble material having an internal coating comprising matrix and one or more active agents, the one or more active agents being dispersed throughout the matrix, the body sized to allow a carrier liquid to be drawn therethrough such that passage of the carrier liquid causes the matrix to release the one or more active agents into the carrier liquid to be consumed by a drinker, wherein the matrix comprises a partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG), an acid and a modified cellulose. 
     
     
         2 . The drinking straw according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid is selected from citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The drinking straw according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the modified cellulose is selected from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The drinking straw according to  any preceding claim , wherein the matrix comprises: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                   (a) PHGG 
                   65 - 80% 
                 
                   (b) Acid 
                   15 - 30% 
                 
                   (c) Modified Cellulose 
                   3 - 10%. 
                 
             
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         5 . The drinking straw according to  any preceding claim , wherein the matrix comprises: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                   (a) PHGG 
                   65 - 75% 
                 
                   (b) Acid 
                   20 - 30% 
                 
                   (c) Modified cellulose 
                   3 - 8%. 
                 
             
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . The drinking straw according to  any preceding claim , wherein the dried coating has a water activity of 0.6 or less. 
     
     
         7 . The drinking straw according to  any preceding claim , wherein the active agent comprises a nutritional supplement, including herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, probiotics, a pharmaceutical substance, a sweetening agent, a flavouring agent, or a colouring agent, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method of preparing a drinking straw having an at-least partially coated internal portion, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a drinking straw of an insoluble material;   (b) providing a matrix and one or more active agents, wherein the matrix comprises a partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG), an acid and a modified cellulose, and mixing these with water to form a coating in the form of a syrup or paste;   (c) applying the coating to an internal surface of the drinking straw; and   (d) drying the coating.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the acid is a food acid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  or  claim 9 , wherein the acid is selected from citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 ,  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein the modified cellulose is selected from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 8 - 11 , wherein the coating is dried to have a water activity of less than 0.6. 
     
     
         13 . A drinking straw comprising an elongate tubular body of an insoluble material having an internal coating comprising matrix and one or more active agents, the one or more active agents being dispersed throughout the matrix, the body sized to allow a carrier liquid to be drawn therethrough such that passage of the carrier liquid causes the matrix to release the one or more active agents into the carrier liquid to be consumed by a drinker, wherein the matrix comprises:
 (a) 70 - 75% parts by weight of the hydrolysed gum,   (b) 3 - 8% parts by weight of the modified cellulose, and   (c) 20 - 25% parts by weight of the acid.